PFAW Praises Nomination of Abdul Kallon, Will Be First African American from Alabama on 11th Circuit

People For the American Way today praised President Obama’s nomination of Abdul Kallon to serve on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. When confirmed, Judge Kallon, who currently serves on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, will be the first African American judge from his state to serve at the federal appellate level.

Judge Kallon is a well-qualified nominee who received broad bipartisan support when he was confirmed to his current seat. The Senate should move quickly to process his nomination,” said Marge Baker, Executive Vice President at People For the American Way. “In addition to being an historic nominee, Judge Kallon’s confirmation will fill a judicial emergency that’s been empty since 2013. This nomination is an excellent opportunity for the Senate to show that it can move past partisanship and gridlock in order to keep our courts working.

In 2009, Judge Kallon was unanimously confirmed by the Senate as a District Court judge and had the support of both his home state senators. At his confirmation hearing, Senator Jeff Sessions, then ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, praised Kallon’s “impressive legal credentials” and spoke of the Alabama legal community’s high respect for his “integrity and judgment and legal ability.

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and defend constitutional values including free expression, religious liberty, equal justice under the law, and the right to meaningfully participate in our democracy.